Met's Dizaei facing two charges

Commander Ali Dizaei is president of the National Black Police Association

Senior police officer Ali Dizaei has been charged with misconduct in a public office and of trying to pervert the course of justice.

The Metropolitan police commander faces the charges after an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation following an incident in a restaurant.

The National Black Police Association president will appear before Westminster magistrates on 3 June.

Mr Dizaei, who was suspended from the Met in September, denies the claims.

The National Black Police Association says it has offered Mr Dizaei its "full support" as president.

The IPCC said in a statement: "As a result of an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation and following his voluntary attendance at Bishopsgate Police Station, Commander Ali Dizaei has today been charged with offences of misconduct in a public office and doing acts tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice."

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had advised the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) there was sufficient evidence to charge Mr Dizaei in relation to events on Friday 18 July 2008.

CPS lawyer Gaon Hart said: "These charges relate to an incident in which Mr Dizaei, in his capacity as a police officer, arrested a man on allegations including assault. A decision not to charge that individual was made by the CPS in August 2008."

[We have] confidence in the British criminal justice system to come to the right conclusions, which we fully expect will demonstrate his innocence National Black Police Association

An investigation was then held by the IPCC and a file submitted to the CPS in November.

At the time of his suspension by the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) it said the action was "not a disciplinary sanction" and "should not be taken as a presumption of guilt".

Following confirmation of the intention to charge, the MPA said Commander Dizaei remained a serving police officer for whom the MPA had a "duty of care" and called on the Met Police Service to ensure "all necessary support" was in place.

In a statement the MPA said its professional standards cases sub-committee would continue to review regularly its earlier decision to suspend the commander.

The National Black Police Association said in a statement: "He firmly denies the allegations against him and the NBPA has confidence in the British criminal justice system to come to the right conclusions, which we fully expect will demonstrate his innocence.

"We will strive to ensure that the prosecution of the alleged offences is both proportionate and expeditious."

In 2003 Mr Dizaei was cleared at the Old Bailey of criminal charges relating to misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice.